Safety-lock.



J. c. ABBOTT SAFETY LOOK.

APPLICATION IILBD APR. 6, 1914.

1,1 16,361, Patented Nov. 10,1914.

WITNESSES: IN VE N TOR A TTOHN E V THE NORRIS PETERS CO-, PHOID'LU'HOU WASHINGTON 5 JAMES C. ABBOTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914:.

Application filed April 6, 1914. Serial No. 829,727.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs C. ABBOTT, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to devices for preventing the forcing of locks of the sliding bolt type, and more particularly to looks of the type in which the bolt is normally thrown to locking position by a spring, such for instance as the bolts which are commonly found on dumb waiter doors and the like.

It is well known that in a large percentage of the instances in which flats and apartments are looted, the thief effects his entrance through the dumb-waiter door by forcing back the bolt by means of an instrument inserted into the crack from the out side. Locks of the spring controlled bolt type, Wherever located, are easily picked in this manner.

The object of the present invention is to render impossible the throwing or forcing of such bolts without actual breaking of the lock; and to render exceedingly ditlicult the breaking of the lock, by means of the present invention in which there is a boltlooking or retaining device of peculiar strength, and so constructed that all strains are directed and distributed so as to be received and resisted by those parts having the greatest strength.

The invention, as hereinafter more particularly described, comprises a device which when unset is free to be moved by the bolt upon withdrawal of the latter, but which lies in the path of the bolt or of a connec tion thereto or is so connected to the bolt, that when set, this device prevents movement of the bolt. For setting and unsetting this bolt controlling element, there is proivided a stop or setting device, shiftable at will. These two elements, in form of the invention shown in the drawings, are mounted in a box like structure preferably of sheet metal, and they are of such character and so disposed with respect to each other as to be confinable within a small and comparatively light sheet metal casing without subjecting the latter to distortion under the heaviest strains which may be applied in an attempt to force the bolt. The setting device is held against improper displacement by means which also serve as a reinforcement for the casing; and the latter is so formed as to have continuous or unbroken walls where the strains are greatest.

A feature of the invention is that the bolt holding device, in its several parts and mounting, may be applied as a unit to the usual dumbwaiter and other latches, without involving any change in the structure of suchlatches, and without even necessitating an opening of the casing of the latter, and likewise may be removed from such latches without affecting their usual mode of operation. In other words, it may be an independent device, applicable at will to an already installed operative latch, and may be handled as an independent article of manufacture.

The above and other features of the invention will more fully appear upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled bolt and safety device; Fig. Zis a view in cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3, at and 5 are detail views of parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings,'in Fig. l the bolt 1 is shown as a spring bolt of common type, having a stem 2 embraced by a coil spring 3 which bears at one end against the head of the bolt, and

at the other end against the casing or housing 4:, in which the bolt is mounted to slide. The spring tends to throw the bolt out to Fig. 2, or looking, position. In the form shown, the bolt is withdrawn by means of a handle piece 5 in the shape of a bell crank lever pivoted at 6 in a pair of ears 7 forming part of the bolt casing 4-. The latter is slotted between the ears to permit one arm 8 of the handle lever (see Fig. 2) to engage the bolt head. The bolt head is slotted or cut as at 9 to receive the arm. 8; so that, when the handle is pulled forward from Fig. 2 position, the bolt is thrown back, against the action of the coil spring 3. A flange 10, forming part of the casing&, provides for attachment to the door by means the slide stop with more or less modification, according to the nature of the bolt, the invention may be applied to a great variety of bolts. A form of the invention, applicable to the type of bolt shown in the drawings will now be described.

The bolt stem 2 is extended through the end wall of the casing 4 for engagement with a dog or stop 12. The latter is pivotally mounted at 18 on a pin, which (see Big. 1), may form one of the attachments of the device to the door. As shown in Fig. 1., the dog or stop 12 fits snugly between the front wall 1 1 and the rear wall 1.5 of a sheet metal box. This box lies over the bolt housing, and is secured to the door by-screws 13 and 16. On a plane taken perpendicularly to the door, the box appears as of U shaped cross section, the bottom 17 thereof being continuous from end to end of the box. A rear end wall 18 (see Fig. 5) is preferably provided for the box by continuing the sheet metal upward from the base of the box a short distance, so as to strengthen the box, and to prevent distortion thereof under the strains to which it is subjected. In order that the dog or stop 12 may be swung between the dotted and full line positions of Fig. 2, it is nicked or cut at 19 to prevent its striking the end wall 18 of the box. The front end wall 20 of the box is formed by turning in or folding over, the box walls 1 1 and 15 untilthey meet, and the sheet metal blank is preferably of such shape that the wall 20 may be continued into short top wall 21 to fit over a slide stop 22 within the box. This slide stop is operated by a finger piece 23, and it rests upon the bottom of the box, except that between it and the box bottom is a spring 2 1, which is preferably of the length of the inside of the box and bears against both ends of the box to prevent movement of it within the box when the slide is operated. The spring 24 rests upon the box bottom for the entire length of the latter, and thus serves as a reinforcement for the box bottom in resisting the strains to which the latter is subjected in use. By so reinforcing the box, its construction of sheet metal, instead of as a casting, is made simple and inexpensive. The spring 24 at the bolthead end is turned over and finally shaped to provide a tooth at its end. This tooth or detent 25, according to the position of the slide stop 22, may engage one or the other of two indentations 26 and 27 in the slide 22.

The safety device is shown in the drawin s as in inoperative position, with the spring tooth 25 engaging the indentation 27 to prevent accidentaldisplacement of The function of the slide stop 22, when moved from this position, is

to engage and hold the pivoted stop 12 in the full line position of Fig. 2. To this end,

the stop 12 is provided with a tooth 28, and the stop 22 is cut away at 29 to slide neatly under the tooth 28 when the slide is operated. When the slide 22 is moved from Fig. 2 position to the position in which the spring tooth 25 engages the indentation 26, it moves beneath the tooth 28 on the stop 12 until it is arrested by contact of an extension 30, at the base thereof, with the end wall 18 of the box; and in this position is held against accidental displacement by spring tooth 25 and indentation 265. At this time the pivoted stop 12 is in full line position (Fig. 2), with its depending arm against the face of the bolt casing, and across the path of the stem 2 of the bolt. Any effort to force the bolt is received by the pi oted dog 12, and merely results in a com bined downward pressure of the tooth 28, on the slidestop 22, a pressure on the screw or pivot pin 13, and a pressure of the pivoted dog on the extension 30 of the slide stop. Where the latter pressure takes place, the box bottom is therefore reinforced by both the spring 24's and the extension 30, and since the latter distributes the pressure to other parts of the box, as for instance to the top part 21 of the box, under which the tongue 31 of the slide fits snugly, the effort is therefore ultimately applied to those parts of the box which are strongest, to wit, those parts adjacent the attaching screws. In order that binding of the walls of the box upon the stops 12 and 22, due to wear, may be obviated, it is important that the screws or oins 11, 13 and 16 do not work loose, and to prevent this, washers 32, beneath the heads of the screws 11, are fitted within countersinks in the face of the bolt housing. A slot 33 is provided in the front wall of the box at the base thereof as an exit for dirt that may get into the box. This slot however does not break the con tinuity of the box bottom 17 To apply the device to the dumbwaiter latch shown in the drawings, it is simply necessary to remove the screws 13 and 16, which, with the screws 11, hold the same to the door, then place the casing 1 1 above the latch, so that the holes in the casing 14 register with the holes of the screws 13 and 16; and then insert and drive in those screws; it being understood that the slide 28, step 12, and other parts f the holding device are in position as hereinbefore described.

lVhereas one form of the invention well adapted to use in connectionwith the particular form of bolt has been described, it will be obvious that the structure shown and described is capable of considerable modification within the scope of the claims.

Iclaimr- 1. In a lock, a bolt, means for operating the belt, a stop adapted to be set to prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said stop being normally free to move with the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, and means for rendering said stop operative to prevent withdrawalof the bolt.

2. In a look, a bolt, means for operating the bolt, a stop adapted to be set to prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said stop being normally free tomove with the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, and means shiftable at will to render said step operative to prevent withdrawal of the bolt.

3. In a look, a bolt, bolt-throwing means, means exclusive of the bolt and bolt-throwing means but movable therewith when the bolt is withdrawn, and means adapted to be set at will to hold said last named means, and through it the bolt, against withdrawal.

4. In a lock, a bolt, bolt-throwing means, means exclusive of the bolt and bolt-throwing means but movable therewith when the bolt is withdrawn, and a slide adapted to be set at will to hold said last named means, and through it the bolt, against withdrawal.

5. In a look, a bolt, boltsthrowing means, pivotallv mounted means exclusive of the bolt and bolt-throwing means but movable therewith when the bolt is withdrawn, and means adapted to be set at will to hold said last named means, and through it the bolt, against withdrawal.

6. In a lock, a bolt, bolt-throwing means, a device exclusive of the bolt and boltthrowing means but movable therewith when the bolt is withdrawn, said last named device being in the form of a bell crank lever having one arm thereof disposed to be engaged by the bolt and thereby rocked when the bolt is withdrawn, and means movable at will into. position to engage and hold against movement the other arm of said lever to prevent withdrawal of the bolt.

7. In a look, a bolt, bolt-throwing means, means exclusive of the bolt and bolt-throwing means but movable therewith when the bolt is withdrawn, means adapted to be set at will to hold said last named means, and through it the bolt. against withdrawal, and a spring detent for holding said setting means in either of its set positions against accidental displacement.

8. In a look, a bolt, bolt-throwing means, a device exclusive of the bolt and bolt-throwing means but movable therewith when the bolt is withdrawn, said last named device be ing in the form of a bell crank lever having one arm thereof disposed to be engaged and rocked by the bolt when the bolt is withdrawn, a slide movable at will into the path of movement of the other arm of said lever to hold. the lever and through it the bolt against withdrawal, and a spring detent engaging the slide tohold the latter against accidental displacement in either of the set positions of the slide.

9. In a lock, a bolt, acasing or mounting for thebolt, a stop adapted to be set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, a mounting for the stop detachable from the bolt mounting, said stop consisting of a bell cranklevenone arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, a pair of plates forming part of the stop mounting between which said lever is pivoted, and a slide forwhich said plates form a guideway said slide being shit'table at will into and out of the path of movement of the other arm of said lever to hold the lever and with it the bolt against movement.

10. Ina look, a bolt, means adapted to be set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a lever having two arms, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, a pair of plates between which said lever is pivoted,a slide forwhich said plates form a guideway, said slide being shiftable at will into and out of the path of movement of the other arm of said lever to hold the lever against movement, a base for said slide, and a leaf spring between said base and said slide to reinforce said base and having a detent to engage and hold said slide against accidental displacement in either of the set positions of the slide.

11. In a lock, a bolt, means adapted to be set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a lever having two arms, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, a sheet metal box having side walls between which said lever is pivoted, and a bottom which, with the side walls, is adapted to serve as a slideway, a slide in said slideway adapted to be moved under the other arm of said lever,

into thepath of movement of the same, to prevent movement of the lever and withdrawal ot' the bolt, and tobe moved out of the path of movement of said other lever arm to permit withdrawal of the bolt.

12. In a lock, a bolt, means adapted to be set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a bell crank lever, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the lat ter is withdrawn, a sheet metal box having side walls between which said lever is pivoted, and a bottom which, with the side walls, is adapted to serve as a slideway, a slide in said slideway adapted to be moved under the other arm of said lever, into the path of movement of the same, to prevent movement of the lever and withdrawal of the bolt, and to be moved out of the path of movement of said other lever arm to permit withdrawal of the bolt, one of the side walls having an opening therein at the base pf the box to provide exit for dirt and the ike.

13. In a look, a bolt, means adapted to be set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a bell crank lever, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, a sheet metal box having side walls between which said lever is pivoted, and a bottom which, with the side walls, is adapted to serve as a slideway, a slide in said slideway adapted to be moved under the other arm of said lever, into the path of movement of the same, to prevent movement of the lever and withdrawal of the bolt, and to be moved out of the path of movement of said other lever arm to permit withdrawal of the bolt, and end walls to said sheet metal box which serve as stops for the slide.

14. In a look, a bolt, means adapted to be set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a bell crank lever, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, a sheet metal box having side walls between which said lever is pivoted, and a bottom which, with the side walls, is adapted to serve as a slideway, a slide in said slideway adapted to be moved under the other arm of said lever, into the path of. movement of the same, to prevent movement of the lever and withdrawal of the bolt, and to be moved out of the path of movement of said other lever arm to permit withdrawal of the bolt, and end walls to said sheet metal box, one of said end walls being discontinued part way up the box to provide clearance for the first mentioned lever arm.

15. In a look, a bolt, means adapted to be set at will to permit-or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a bell crank lever, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, a sheet metal box having sidewalls between which said lever is pivoted, and a bottom which, with the side walls, is adapted to serve as a slideway, a slide in said slideway adapted to be moved under the other arm of said lever, into the path of movement of the same, to prevent movement of the lever and withdrawal of the bolt, and to be moved out of the path of movement of said other lever arm to permit withdrawal of the bolt, and a leaf spring resting on the base of the box, to reinforce the same and having a detent to hold the slide against accidental displacement from either of its set positions.

16. In a look, a bolt, means adapted to be *set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a bell crank lever, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, a sheet metal box having side walls between which said lever is pivoted, and a bottom which, with the side walls, is adapted to serve as a slideway, a slide in said slideway adapted to be moved under the other arm of said lever, into the path of movement of the same, to prevent movement of the lever and withdrawal of the bolt, and to be moved out off the path of movement of said other lever arm to permit withdrawal of the bolt, and a leaf spring resting on the base of the box, to reinforce the same and having a detent to hold the slide against accidental displacement from either of its set positions, said leaf spring extending the entire length of the box bottom, and the box bottom being also continuous for its'entire length.

17. In a lock, a bolt, means adapted to be set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a bell crank lever, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the lat ter is withdrawn, a sheet metal box having side walls between which said lever is pivoted, and a bottom which, with the side walls, is adapted to serve as a slideway, a slide in said slideway adapted to be moved under the other arm of said lever, into the path of movement of the same, to prevent movement of the lever and withdrawal of the bolt, and to be moved out of the path of movement of said other lever arm to permit withdrawal of the bolt, and a leaf spring resting on the base of the box with the slide resting on thespring said spring being turned up and over the slide at one end, and, at such end, being provided with a detent to hold the slide against accidental displacement.

18. In a lock, a bolt, means adapted to be set at will to permit or prevent withdrawal of the bolt, said means consisting of a bell crank lever, one arm of which lies in the path of movement of the bolt when the latter is withdrawn, a sheet metal box having side walls between which said lever is pivoted, and a bottom which, with the side 7 walls, is adapted to serve as slideway, a slide in said slideway adapted to be moved under the other arm of said. lever, into the path of movement of the same, to prevent movement of the lever and withdrawal of the bolt, and to be moved out of thepath of movement of said other lever arm to permit withdrawal of the bolt, and screws or pins passing through said side walls of the box to serve as means of attachment of the device to its support, one of said screws or pins serving also as the pivot of said lever.

19. A safety device for bolts and latches comprising a stop for engagement with the bolt or latch mechanism and means for rendering at will said stop operative and inop- Signed by me at New York, this 4 day of erative to prevent movement (In? tile bolt, April, 1914:.

while in such enga ement, saic sa ety dej vice being independ ent of the bolt 01' latch JAMES ABBOII and operating mechanism therefor, except Witnesses:

that it may be connected therewith and L. .ALTMAN,

used as a stop when so desired. MARTHA ZITZMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

